As a serial entrepreneur juggling an intense work schedule and various ventures, maintaining sharp cognitive abilities isn't just a personal goal for me, it’s a necessity to stay competitive. After deep-diving into both psychological insights and real-life examples, I’ve observed that those aged 65 and older who remain sharper than their younger counterparts integrate specific habits into their daily lives. The overlap between these habits and entrepreneurial practices is striking. Here’s what I’ve learned and implemented not just for aging gracefully, but for thriving in business too.
8 Habits That Keep You Sharp Post-65
1. Keep Moving, Physically and Mentally
There’s no getting around this. Staying active isn’t just about hitting the gym; it’s about activity that fits your life. Studies repeatedly link regular physical activity with better brain health. For older adults, just 30 minutes a day of moderate exercise like walking, stretching, or even gardening has a long-lasting cognitive benefit. Entrepreneurs can think of this as keeping their "operating system" running smoothly. If you’re chained to your desk, use tools like a standing desk or schedule walking meetings.
Here’s why it works: physical activity increases blood flow to the brain, which supports memory and focus. Don’t underestimate the link between physical sharpness and the ability to make quick decisions in complex scenarios.
2. Strengthen Meaningful Relationships
Whether you’re 25 or 65, the strength of your network can make or break success. For those in the older age bracket, keeping in regular contact with friends and family creates a strong support system and prevents mental decline. Similarly, for business owners, maintaining valuable connections, mentors, team members, customers, improves both cognitive and emotional resilience.
Maintaining these interpersonal connections isn’t about clinging to your existing circle. Embrace new relationships. I’ve joined forums and small communities of entrepreneurs, which expand my thinking and perspectives. Research has shown the brain's wiring becomes more dynamic when interacting with others, especially across generations.
3. Become a Lifelong Learner
The world changes fast, and staying stagnant is equivalent to falling behind. Take advantage of books, online courses, or even hobbies that offer the chance to learn new skills. Did you know that learning new languages or playing an instrument can make your brain produce fresh neural connections? For those over 65, this means maintaining sharp problem-solving skills. For startups or freelance professionals, this is about staying relevant.
Personally, I’ve made it a point to learn something unrelated to my field every quarter, whether it’s through reading compelling books or diving into AI-driven technology. Start by checking out platforms like Coursera for business courses.
4. Cultivate Mindfulness
Mindfulness has come up often in conversations I’ve had with mentors, particularly while navigating the mental tolls of entrepreneurship. Daily meditation, even for just five to ten minutes, helps reframe your thoughts and improve focus and creativity. It also reduces stress, a major factor contributing to long-term cognitive decline.
For instance, I blocked a specific time on my calendar for mindfulness practice each morning, a habit I borrowed from peers excelling in fields as stressful as finance and deeptech. The result? More clarity during the day.
5. Set Ambitious Goals
Older adults who continue pursuing goals consistently rank higher on cognitive and emotional sharpness scales. It doesn’t have to be planning the next startup or international expansion, a daily goal like perfecting a recipe or finishing a complex book is enough to stretch the mind.
In my experience, having specific, short-term objectives keeps the mind sharp and motivated. Entrepreneurs often face long uphill battles, so breaking intimidating dreams into daily, achievable tasks has been my go-to strategy.
6. Exercise Problem-Solving Skills
Puzzles, math problems, and brain teasers, yes, they work. It might sound pedestrian, but tackling logic games or solving strategic challenges refines mental sharpness. Chess, too, is an excellent example. I recently started engaging in weekly chess games with a fellow founder. I’ve found that the ability to anticipate moves has significantly improved my long-term strategic planning.
If traditional puzzles don’t appeal, consider trying strategic decision-making simulations. Platforms like GrowthHackers often offer resources for real-world business scenarios to practice your mental agility.
7. Protect Your Routine
Routine is something business leaders undervalue. We talk so much about "hustle" and changing the world that we forget: underlying all our success is good health. Success begins with a structured, healthy lifestyle. For those over 65, a lack of consistency in eating, sleeping, and productivity habits accelerates cognitive decline.
Be religious about your sleeping habits. One underrated technique I’ve used is setting “wind-down” hours. For instance, I stay offline after 9 PM to ensure clearer thinking in the morning. Entrepreneurs thrive by front-loading creative tasks when brains are at peak performance.
8. Teach What You Know
The old phrase “The best way to learn is to teach” has some merit. Explaining your knowledge to someone else forces you to articulate clearly and often improves your understanding in the process. For seniors, teaching family or young professionals helps them stay involved and find continued purpose.
Encourage reverse mentoring relationships in business. Younger team members might be savvier with new tools, but your deep-domain experience adds unique value. Collaboration sparks insight and gives meaning to your work beyond its financial rewards.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
Whether you apply these strategies as an entrepreneur, freelancer, or someone facing retirement age, it’s important not to fall into these traps:
- Skipping Physical Exercise: Most cite “not having time” as an excuse, but even 15 minutes daily can make a difference.
- Neglecting the Present for the Future: Some people chase big goals at the expense of enjoying their daily lives. Stay engaged in both.
- Overloading on Passive Entertainment: Watching TV or endlessly scrolling online is no substitute for reading, solving puzzles, or engaging in strategic games.
How To Start Incorporating These Habits Today
If this feels overwhelming, remember that small incremental changes are far easier to integrate and maintain. Start by choosing just two habits from this list. For example:
- Begin learning a new skill using Duolingo or another app that gamifies the process, keeping things lighthearted.
- Add five minutes of stretching or brisk walking into your lunch break routine.
Once you build momentum with these small adjustments, expand into other habits like goal-setting or teaching others.
Lessons Learned From Seniors in Business
Having worked with several older entrepreneurs and innovators in my career, I've noticed how these habits give them an edge over their younger competitors. Their deep networks, insatiable curiosity, and disciplined self-care not only sharpen mental acuity but also enhance their decision-making under pressure.
Smart aging isn’t just about preserving your mind or body; it’s about continuing to provide value and enjoying the process along the way. Business is a great vehicle for this, but it’s endlessly adaptable to creative, personal, or social pursuits.
What are you doing today to stay sharp for your future?
FAQ
1. How does physical activity help keep seniors mentally sharp?
Regular physical activities like walking, stretching, and gardening increase blood flow to the brain, improving memory and focus. They also support overall neural health. Learn more about brain health and exercise
2. Why are meaningful relationships important for maintaining cognitive health?
Engaging in social interactions and building meaningful relationships boosts emotional resilience, creates dynamic brain wiring, and combats mental decline. Discover research on social activities and cognitive function
3. How does lifelong learning improve cognitive abilities?
Learning new skills such as languages or musical instruments fosters fresh neural connections, assisting in preserving sharp problem-solving skills and mental agility as you age. Learn about cognitive super agers
4. What role does mindfulness play in preventing cognitive decline?
Practicing mindfulness through meditation or relaxation techniques reduces stress and improves focus, contributing to long-term brain health and creativity.
5. Are ambitious goals essential for mental sharpness post-65?
Yes. Setting goals, whether big or small, keeps the mind motivated and engaged, fostering cognitive resilience and adaptability.
6. How does solving puzzles or logic games benefit the aging brain?
Activities like chess and brain teasers refine mental sharpness by enhancing problem-solving skills and long-term strategic thinking. Explore cognitive benefits through strategic games
7. Why is maintaining a routine crucial for cognitive health in older adults?
Consistent routines in sleep, nutrition, and productivity create stability that sustains mental clarity and minimizes unnecessary stress.
8. How can teaching others enhance cognitive abilities among seniors?
Teaching or mentoring forces clear articulation and active engagement, which strengthen understanding and promote cognitive adaptability.
9. What is the impact of being purpose-driven on mental sharpness?
Engaging in activities that provide a sense of purpose, such as volunteering or mentoring, creates a fulfilling and cognitively stimulating lifestyle.
10. Which habits should older adults avoid to maintain cognitive health?
Avoid skipping physical exercise, overloading on passive entertainment like excessive TV, and neglecting short-term enjoyment for long-term goals. Explore tips on thriving in older age
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. Throughout her startup experience she has applied for multiple startup grants at the EU level, in the Netherlands and Malta, and her startups received quite a few of those. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.
Violetta Bonenkamp's expertise in CAD sector, IP protection and blockchain
Violetta Bonenkamp is recognized as a multidisciplinary expert with significant achievements in the CAD sector, intellectual property (IP) protection, and blockchain technology.
CAD Sector:
- Violetta is the CEO and co-founder of CADChain, a deep tech startup focused on developing IP management software specifically for CAD (Computer-Aided Design) data. CADChain addresses the lack of industry standards for CAD data protection and sharing, using innovative technology to secure and manage design data.
- She has led the company since its inception in 2018, overseeing R&D, PR, and business development, and driving the creation of products for platforms such as Autodesk Inventor, Blender, and SolidWorks.
- Her leadership has been instrumental in scaling CADChain from a small team to a significant player in the deeptech space, with a diverse, international team.
IP Protection:
- Violetta has built deep expertise in intellectual property, combining academic training with practical startup experience. She has taken specialized courses in IP from institutions like WIPO and the EU IPO.
- She is known for sharing actionable strategies for startup IP protection, leveraging both legal and technological approaches, and has published guides and content on this topic for the entrepreneurial community.
- Her work at CADChain directly addresses the need for robust IP protection in the engineering and design industries, integrating cybersecurity and compliance measures to safeguard digital assets.
Blockchain:
- Violetta’s entry into the blockchain sector began with the founding of CADChain, which uses blockchain as a core technology for securing and managing CAD data.
- She holds several certifications in blockchain and has participated in major hackathons and policy forums, such as the OECD Global Blockchain Policy Forum.
- Her expertise extends to applying blockchain for IP management, ensuring data integrity, traceability, and secure sharing in the CAD industry.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond, launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks and is building MELA AI to help local restaurants in Malta get more visibility online.
For the past several years Violetta has been living between the Netherlands and Malta, while also regularly traveling to different destinations around the globe, usually due to her entrepreneurial activities. This has led her to start writing about different locations and amenities from the POV of an entrepreneur. Here’s her recent article about the best hotels in Italy to work from.
About the Publication
Fe/male Switch is an innovative startup platform designed to empower women entrepreneurs through an immersive, game-like experience. Founded in 2020 during the pandemic "without any funding and without any code," this non-profit initiative has evolved into a comprehensive educational tool for aspiring female entrepreneurs.The platform was co-founded by Violetta Shishkina-Bonenkamp, who serves as CEO and one of the lead authors of the Startup News branch.
Mission and Purpose
Fe/male Switch Foundation was created to address the gender gap in the tech and entrepreneurship space. The platform aims to skill-up future female tech leaders and empower them to create resilient and innovative tech startups through what they call "gamepreneurship". By putting players in a virtual startup village where they must survive and thrive, the startup game allows women to test their entrepreneurial abilities without financial risk.
Key Features
The platform offers a unique blend of news, resources,learning, networking, and practical application within a supportive, female-focused environment:
- Skill Lab: Micro-modules covering essential startup skills
- Virtual Startup Building: Create or join startups and tackle real-world challenges
- AI Co-founder (PlayPal): Guides users through the startup process
- SANDBOX: A testing environment for idea validation before launch
- Wellness Integration: Virtual activities to balance work and self-care
- Marketplace: Buy or sell expert sessions and tutorials
Impact and Growth
Since its inception, Fe/male Switch has shown impressive growth:
- 5,000+ female entrepreneurs in the community
- 100+ startup tools built
- 5,000+ pieces of articles and news written
- 1,000 unique business ideas for women created
Partnerships
Fe/male Switch has formed strategic partnerships to enhance its offerings. In January 2022, it teamed up with global website builder Tilda to provide free access to website building tools and mentorship services for Fe/male Switch participants.
Recognition
Fe/male Switch has received media attention for its innovative approach to closing the gender gap in tech entrepreneurship. The platform has been featured in various publications highlighting its unique "play to learn and earn" model.